I'm Blessed

I'm blessed...so blessed! And I'm grateful for all my blessings. I'm blessed to be able to wake up every morning, walk to our solarium, and look out onto a panorama of beauty such as the one in the picture above. Wow!

And that's just one of many, many blessings that are bestowed upon me day after day, week after week, in an eternal flow of goodness. This is what Life is all about!

When people greet me with the usual question, "How are you?", I've always answered with my standard, "Perfect!". People have become so used to hearing that from me that I've been nicknamed Mr Perfect.

But now, I'm taking that to a different level. My answer now is, "I'm blessed!" I can't take full credit for that answer. I heard it in an interview with Cory Boyd, the Toronto Argonauts young running back. When asked how he was doing, he immediately, and without hesitation, answered, "I'm blessed!" I liked that so much that I decided to adopt it into my greeting to everyone.

"I'm blessed" is such a wonderful fact of Life for me. Yes, I'm still perfect. That hasn't changed. I always was perfect, and always will be; that's the way I was created and nothing can change that. But now, in gratitude for my perfection, I declare that "I'm blessed!"

Try that on for size. I didn't make it up, but I'm using it. And you can, too. Just try it. You'll feel so good about your life, and that's what attracts more good into your experience.

So thank you, Cory Boyd, and thank you, God, for all my blessings. I truly am blessed!

Cheers...and blessings,
Gareth Marples


Would you like to feel and experience the blessings that are always waiting to flow into your life? Try this: www.angeltherapy.com

React?...or Respond?

This is what appears to be a psychedelic view of downtown Toronto. That view was created solely by my camera, not by me. I snapped the shot...the camera did the rest. So how do you think I felt when I saw that photo come out of my camera? Was I upset? Was I shocked? Was I amused?

These are the types of questions that arise every time we're confronted with any type of situation in our daily lives. What do we do - react...or respond? And what's the difference between reacting and responding?

The way I see it, everything that life presents us is an opportunity - an opportunity to choose - to choose the positive or the negative. What do you usually choose? Does it depend on what kind of mood you're in? Does it depend on circumstances outside your sphere of influence? What's your governing factor?

Let me offer you what works for me. My governing factor is always the positive. And that's what I call a "response". It takes time to respond. It isn't automatic. It's based on your belief system. I choose to take the time to think about the circumstances presented to me, and to think about what works for me and what doesn't. That's what I call a "response".

On the other hand, a "reaction" is something that happens automatically, without much outside control. A reaction is triggered by a catalyst - something that works to create something else when the two are joined, irregardless of any other contributing factors. And that situation leaves you totally out of control!

So when you're faced with any of life's challenging circumstances, take the time to "respond", not "react". Take the high road. Express the positive. Do what works best for you and for those around you. The main difference between "react" and "respond" is time. So take that time. Take the time to choose what's best. And I guarantee you that you'll be happy with the results! Enjoy!!

Cheers,
Gareth Marples


And now that you have your thoughts in the right place, make them work for you: Making Your Thoughts Work for You by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer; Byron Katie

Appreciation

Today, and every day, I so appreciate the beauty around me. Every morning, I get up and go straight to our solarium...and I see views like this! My darling wife, Suzanne, and I are so blessed to have a view like this one. It brings us so much closer to Who We Are. We really appreciate it!

What do you appreciate in your life? Not sure? Well, I'm sure many, and hopefully, most of you, appreciate your family and friends. That's where the love is, and there's nothing more worthy of appreciation than Love.

After the obvious things in your life that you appreciate, try to find some of the more obscure things. For instance, how about appreciating your health. And how about appreciating your job. And how about appreciating every little thing that you take for granted on a daily basis - like your clothes, your food, your means of transportation. And how about appreciating - yes, that too - your enemies. And if you have no enemies (and good for you!), then you could appreciate those who sometimes just annoy you or upset you! Yes, appreciate them, too, for they bring lessons to your life. They bring reason to your life. They bring the opportunity for you to react...or respond.

I'll talk about the difference between reacting and responding in my next blog. But for now, just be appreciative...of all that life brings you. Because, and I've said this before, everything that life brings you is a gift...that's why they call it The Present.

Have a perfect day...for you were created in perfection, and nothing can change that.

Cheers,
Gareth Marples


The more you appreciate what's around you, the more you'll experience your good now. Check this out to find out how: Experience Your Good Now! By Louise Hay